The carbon footprint of global tourism

Manfred Lenzen, Ya-Yen Sun, Futu Faturay, Yuan-Peng Ting, Arne Geschke and Arunima Malik ()
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Manfred Lenzen: The University of Sydney
Ya-Yen Sun: National Cheng Kung University
Futu Faturay: The University of Sydney
Yuan-Peng Ting: National Cheng Kung University
Arne Geschke: The University of Sydney
Arunima Malik: The University of Sydney

Nature Climate Change, 2018, vol. 8, issue 6, 522-528

Abstract: Abstract Tourism contributes significantly to global gross domestic product, and is forecast to grow at an annual 4%, thus outpacing many other economic sectors. However, global carbon emissions related to tourism are currently not well quantified. Here, we quantify tourism-related global carbon flows between 160 countries, and their carbon footprints under origin and destination accounting perspectives. We find that, between 2009 and 2013, tourism’s global carbon footprint has increased from 3.9 to 4.5 GtCO2e, four times more than previously estimated, accounting for about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Transport, shopping and food are significant contributors. The majority of this footprint is exerted by and in high-income countries. The rapid increase in tourism demand is effectively outstripping the decarbonization of tourism-related technology. We project that, due to its high carbon intensity and continuing growth, tourism will constitute a growing part of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0141-x

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